Brianna Harley Breaux

Our beloved Brianna Harley Breaux tragically left us on Friday, July 15, 2022, at the age of 26. Left behind to grieve the loss are her parents, Larry M. Jr. and Brandalyn Breaux; her twin brother, Gage Davidson Breaux; and her life partner, jazz musician Dylan C. James. She is also survived by her Nanny, Bambi Varnado Steele (Sean Keith); her cousin, Seth M. Steele; paternal grandmother, Donna L. Breaux; maternal great-grandmother, Loretta B. Fortuna; and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, and many, many friends and family. Brianna was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Jessie D Jr. and Lauralyn Fortuna Varnado, and her paternal grandfather, Larry M. Breaux Sr.
Brianna, or Bri, as her friends called her, was a student at UNO, working on a second degree in chemistry in hopes of running her lab. Brianna finished her first degree in 2018 with her Bachelor’s in Philosophy. Working her way through school, she was a waitress and bartender at a few local establishments, most recently Oscar’s on Metairie Road and Lola’s on Esplanade Ave. 
At an early age, Brianna showed she was a little artist – she was always drawing, writing, and singing when she wasn’t reading or doing schoolwork. She loved learning and had the grades to show it. She was as talented in the arts as she was academically gifted in the classroom.
In her short 26 years, she lived a full life: spending a summer in Ireland, studying abroad; spending a year studying plant chemistry at Minot State University in North Dakota; spending one year out of school, working in various not-for-profits in the New Orleans area and volunteering with middle school writers in many clinics held, pre-Covid. Bri even spent one summer as a vendor in Jackson Square, selling hand-painted wooden crabs made by her dad, who was her very best friend. 
Bri was born and raised in lower St. Bernard, moving only due to Hurricane Katrina. Although her immediate family didn’t return, she loved her hometown and spent lots of time visiting her family and volunteering at the Islenos Museum, tending the gardens.
Bri loved life, her family and friends, her guy Dylan and everything about the world she lived in. She was a true artist and scientist and worked hard to make those two worlds coincide. Her tragic death is a massive loss to her family, friends, and the artist and scientific communities she was a part of, and she will be immeasurably missed.
A memorial and celebration of life for Brianna will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, 4900 Airline Drive Metairie, LA 70001. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Save the Turtles at https://saveturtles.org or purchasing a tree to replenish the forest on the funeral home’s website.

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